The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-12-16
GENERAL FOREIGN NEWS.
The Military Situation In Germany,
Austria and Russia.

ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. 15.-The ofheiai
Military Gazette publishes long article to
show who is really preparing for attack and
who for defence. 1t says that in the past
five years Of peace the effective German army
has been increased sixty-fve battalions and
3S4 guns. The German troops on the Rus
sian frontier have increased by n battall0ns
Of iafantry, n batteries of artillery and Is
squadrons of cavalry. Since 1873 Germany
has built 1850 kilometers Of railroad In the
eastern provinces, and now has eleven rail-
roads available to forward troops TO the
frontier and ten junction stations where
they can be thrown out and concentrated.
Austria has increased its effective force by
nine divisions. The Galician garrison has
been reinforced the past year by eightsen
of artilIery' She has built 800 RIIometsrs Ss Of
railroad In exposed districts and six railways
are available for throwing troops into Cali
ella.
All these preparations show that Austria
and Germany are preparing % invade Rus
manifest danger, Russia considers Europe
an war would be a terrible misfortune 10 all
mankind. In spite Of the above described
conduct OF Germany and Austria, she has
decreased her defensive forces. During 1881
and 1882 she reduced her effective force one
hundred thousand, but raised 1t slightly on
account Of the Afghan affair. Now the
peace effective force Is seventy-hve thousand
less than In 1881, while that OF her neighbors
Is the same amount greater. In ten years,
only 2828 kilometres OF railroad have been
built in the eastern provinces Of Russia,
against $500 In the eastern provinces Of Ger
many and Austria. The area In which Rus
large as her nelghbors. The latter's roads
run straight to the Russian frontier, but not
so the formers.
Preparations for defence. by increasing
the army and strengthening the fortfesses,
are recommended. In conclusion the article
says that Russia does not dread the result Of
conflict.
PARIS, Dec. 15.-The declarations Of the
Ministers was read in the deputies today. 1t
declares that the cabinets sole ambition Is 70
continue the work Of concord begun Decem-
Der 3. The county will perceive that this
policy will insure pledge OF internal peace.
The declaration promises financial equi-
librium through retrenchment In the expen-
dituies, measures for the repression OF
frauds; dealing with responsibility for acci-
dents In workshops and factories; regulation
Of the hours Of labor for childred and w0-
men providing for the experimentation
fund for miners and to reform the bankrupt
bills relating to benefit societies, savings
banks, an organized poor relief, the rural
districts, and bills for the extension Of agri-
cultural education, the creation Of Cham
ber Of Agriculture and the completion OF the
rural code. Finally it demands the united
Republican vote upon the ministerial scheme
Of military legislation.
At meeting Of the Radicals and Extrem-
lists 1t was decided to withhold votes from
any measure implying confidence In the new
ministry. Jockey, in his inaugural as presi-
dent Of the Radical Left, clearly indicates
that their idea Of Republican concentration
Is the realization OF large portion OF the
Radical programme.
a Business Scheme.
LONDON, Dee. 15.-The London Times's
st. Petersburg correspondent says: "The
foreign Office after inquiring into the matter
of the forged documents sent to the Car ac-
quits the Orleanists Of completely In the
affair. 1t Is believed at the foreign Office
that the fraud was more OF business than
political nature and that 1t was gotten up in
the interests Of private persons"
The Talk OF London
The Times story about DIR. Hamilton VIII
liams and his dynamite campaign Is general
ly regarded as the silliest, and at the same
time the most vicious, thrust OF that papers
series Of attacks upon the Irish party: Even
the most bitter Tories refuse TO believe the
story, and the impression It has made upon
the NatiOnalists Is simply that OF disgust
Mr.. Davitt. who Is in London, den0unces
the article as unworthy even OF the Police
News, which he characterized as the vilest
Suctt tftl RuUn5uCus bC uCdAbny ildlCulto
the idea that Rossa's successor commands
the almost fabulous sum mentioned for the
furtherance Of his murderous purposes. and
declared that there was not a single allega-
tiOn In the story that the cir ;umstanees and
condition of the accused dynamite ring did
not show to be simply impossible. The
most charitable Of Londoners now believe
either that the Times has been wofully mis-
led. or is wlllfully subserving the interests
Of the ultra Tory policy.
Mr.. w. ii. White, American Secretary OF
Legation, admitted In an unofficial way yes
terday that the action Of the sugar confer
ence yesterday would lead to an Information
al Convention to discuss the questions in
vOlved, and 1t Is suspected that the Lega-
tion has received instructions from Wash
ington on the subject.
Or. Mackenzle's Examination.
BERLIN, Dec. 15.-Dr. Mackenzie reached
San Reno at D. m. He examined the
Crown Princes throat, and declared that he
found no dangerous symptoms.
Foreign Notes.
The London Times's correspondent at
Paris repeats the story that Grevy destroyed
two OF the LimOussn letters because his
name appeared In them. He also says that
the scandal case was dismissed to avoid inn
plicatng Grevy.
The late Nine. B0ucicault's property In
Paris is estimated TO be worth $4,000, COO.
She left S2,000,000 for founding hospital.